An earthquake registering 2.6 on the Richter scale hit the central Colombian Tolima department just 8 miles north east of the Cerro Machin, the country’s second most dangerous volcano, authorities announced on Tuesday.
The minor earthquake was registered at 10:22 AM and forced authorities to issue a yellow alert.
According to the Volcanic and Seismological Observatory of Manizales, the earthquake was located five miles northeast of the dome of the Cerro Machin, and at a depth of 2.4 miles. A press release issued by the Directorate of Risk Management of the Ministry of Interior and Justice stated that, “this seismic event was felt by residents near the volcano and in the municipality of Cajamarca (Tolima).”
The yellow alert signifies “changes in the behavior of volcanic activity” as defined by the Colombian Institute of Geology and Mining.
Approximately 20,000 people live in the high risk area where the yellow alert was declared.